Friday, October 1, 2010

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today released the following statement in regards to the recent suicides of LGBT youth:

"This week, we sadly lost two young men who took their own lives for one unacceptable reason: they were being bullied and harassed because they were openly gay or believed to be gay. These unnecessary tragedies come on the heels of at least three other young people taking their own lives because the trauma of being bullied and harassed for their actual or perceived sexual orientation was too much to bear.

"This is a moment where every one of us - parents, teachers, students, elected officials, and all people of conscience - needs to stand up and speak out against intolerance in all its forms. Whether it's students harassing other students because of ethnicity, disability or religion; or an adult, public official harassing the President of the University of Michigan student body because he is gay, it is time we as a country said enough. No more. This must stop."

Did the media cover the statement? I could not find it in the NY Times nor the LA Times nor the Huffingtion Post! Who got to hear it? I'm guessing a few high profile .org members at a high end restaurant for breakfast....Not good enough for me.

Harrison Chase Brown of Colorado was not gay or even questioning his sexuality. He was not bullied. He had a girlfriend. Please don't group the memory of this beautiful boy into your statistics to further your cause.